Temporary binder



L. L; FLECK. TEMPORARY BINDER. APPLICATION mm MAR. 14. 1922.

Patented Sept.

Patented fiept. 245, i922.

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latest LOUIS LEROY FLECK, OF NEW YORK, N. 'Y., ASSIGNOR TO ALEXANDER HAMILTON INSTITUTE, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TEMPORARY BINDER.

. Application filed March 14,

of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Temporary Binders, of-

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in temporary binders or looseleaf holders of the type in which the sheets, leaves or pamphlets to be bound are inserted in the holder and are securely held therein, without the necessity of modifying the sheets in any way, as by punching or notching as a preparatory step. The structure of the binder, however, is such that sheets or leaves which have been notched or perforated for use with other types of binders can be clamped or retained as well as those not so modified.

The object of the invention is to provide a binder of the indicated type which is constructed by a simple arrangement of easily operable extensible clamping elements supported by and cooperating with the cover pieces in such a manner that by the act of clamping the leaves, the cover pieces are also connected in proper relative position or book form. The further objects and advantages of the specific construction will be disclosed in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification, and in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the binder in its closed position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through a part of the binder and one of the clamping elements;

Fig. 4: is a sectional view on the line e1. t of Fig. 3; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective views of the two rooperating parts of the extensible clamp.

Froi'n Figs. land 2, it will be seen that the cover for the binder is formed from a continuous strip of suitable material, which:

may be flexible, the front and back pieces 1, 1' being connected by the end section 2 which latter section is flexible and of sufficient length to permit of the full extension of the clamping elements to accommodate the greatest number of sheets or leaves which the binder is designed to retain. The cover pieces adjoining the section 2 are each rein- 1922. Serial No. 5d$,620.

forced or stiffened with a narrow strip of metal or other material of greater stiffness than that of which the cover pieces are made. This feature is indicated in Fig. 2 by the increased thickness of the cover pieces, and in Fig. 3, the reinforce strips are shown in cross-section at 5 and 6. To the lower cover piece 1 there is also secured an additional strip 7 to give increased strength at this point and also to form a rigid supporting surface for the inner ends of the sheets or leaves 8 to be held in the binder. Each of the strips 5, 6 and 7 extends practically the full width of the binder and is permanently secured to the cover pieces by the eyelets 9 or other equivalent fastening means. In the upper cover piece 1 these eyelets are definitely positioned and have the added function of forming a counter sunk seat for the heads of screw thread fastenings of the clamps hereinafter described. The strip 7, near each outer end, supports an upright post 10, preferably of metal, which posts are permanently secured to the supporting strip by screws 11 passing through the strip 7 and received in drilled and tapped holes in the post structure, see Fig. 4- These posts are further drilled and tapped centrally and from end to end to receive the screw thread fastenings 12. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5 each post is slotted or grooved on two opposite faces making its cross-section somewhat resemble that of the commercial I beam.

While the shape of the slots in the posts is shown as rectangular, it is obvious that these may be given other shapes such for example, as dove-tail, circular, triangular, etc. The purpose of the slots is to form guide ways for the downwardly extending fingers 13 of the clamp elements 14. The fingers 13 are dimensioned and correspondingly shaped to snugly fit within the slots of the posts .10 and to permit vertical move-- ment of the clamps let for proper adjust? ment with respect to the thickness or number of the sheets or leaves to be secured. The clamping elements'lt are further provided with the laterally extending arms 15 havinga downrturned outer edge to engage and bind the sheets 8. A drilled and counter sunk opening 16 is provided in the clamping element which registers in its assembled position, with the centrally located drilled and tapped hole in the post structure. While only two clamping elements are shown in connection with one binder describ .l it is apparent that where hint ers of 'reater width are required, or where the nature of the sheets to bound might be such as would make additional clamps desirable, the number of posts and clamps may be increased. Such changes within the scope of this invention.

The operation of assembling the as follows:

In the disassembled or open position of the hinder, the screw-thread fastenings- 12 will have been reu'ioved and the clamping elements is: an be lifted vertically or entirely removed from the posts 10. The leaves or sheets to be bound are then placed with their upper e l es abutting and alined by the posts. The cl Ding clemerts 14iare placed in position on the posts with the arms 15 engfgag ing; the sheets. The cover piece 1 is folded over to position of Fig. 2 and the screws 12 inserted through the eyelets in cover piece, the counter sunk openings in clamps, and threaded into the registering holes in the posts. The clamps 1% through their arms 15 are thereby brought into contact with the sheets to be bound, pressing; them tightly against the backing strip 7 and also the cover pieces 1 and 1 are at the same time secured togther in book form. setting up the screws 12 until their heads are received within the counter sunk openings. the leaves or sheets will be securely retained in the binder and also the heads of the screws will be depressed below the outer surface of the cover piece in a manner to impro the out ward appearance of the binder, and also to obviate the possibility of the fastening; means causing damage to a finished surface or other book with which the binder might contact. The fastening means there fore arranged entirely within the overall dimensions of the binder, and yet are en tirely accessible for a convenient fastening or releasing; operation.

What I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. .ln temporary or loose leaf binder comprising; cover pieces for the sheets or leaves to be bound, extensible clamping means supported by one cover piece and arranged between the two cover pieces, said clamping means consisting of upright posts having grooves in opposite faces, and cooperating clamping; elements with lingerlike projections to fit within the grooves of the posts to maintain a definite relationship between the clamps and posts, and threaded fastening means extending through the other cover piece and into the posts for maintaining the clamps in operative position, and also securing the cover pieces in proper relative position or book-like form.

In a temporary or loose leaf binder composing cover pieces joined. by a flexible section, reinforce strips associated with the cover pieces adjoining the flexible sections, grooved posts rigidly secured to a strip on one of said cover pieces, and leaf engaging clamping elements adjustably supported on said posts, the said elements having finger like projections to fit within the grooves of the posts, and screw thread fastening means extending through the other cover piece to secure the clamps to the posts in leaf enosition and the cover pieces in propve positions or book-like form.

An extensible clamp for loose leaf binder, comprising an upright post structure with a groove in. one face, substantially coextensive with the length of the post, a clamping element adjustably supported by said post and having; a projection fitting within and guided by said groove and a leaf engaging arm, the clamping element and post being; secured in an adjusted position by a screw thread fastening.

An extensible clamp for a loose leaf binder, comprising an upright post structure with grooves coextensive in length with the post and vertically arranged in opposite faces, a clamping element adjustably supported on said post havingfinger-like projections to fit within and be guided by the said, grooves, and a later lly projecting leaf engaging arm, the clamping element and post being secured in an adjusted position a screw thread fastening.

5. An extensible clamp for a loose leaf binder comprising" separable cooperating elenmits with inter tting parts to permit relative rectilinear displacement, the one element being a post structure rigidly fastened to a supporting base, and having rectangular grooves in opposite faces extending throughout the length of the post, the other element being formed with finger-like projections to fit within and be guided by the post grooves and also having a laterally extending leaf engaging arm, and. a screw thread fastening which passes through the second element and is threaded into the post to maintain the elements in an adjusted clamping position.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

LOUlS LERQY F EEK, 

